
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



»i 



Chap. PJ..0..i 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, g 



HISTORY 



OF 



OCKVILLE //> 



FROM 



1823 TO 1871. 



Including also a brief Sketch of Facts which ante-date the 

Incorporation of Vernon, and bring Dates up to the 

time when this History begins. 



BY WM. T. COGSWELL, ESQ. 

[A Resident of the Village for nearly Half a Century.] 




V^f 



ROCKVILLE : 

PRINTED AT THE JOURNAL OFFICE. 

1872. 



PREFACE 



In presenting to the public the contributions that have appeared 
from time to time in the Tolland County Journal, entitled "Remin- 
iscences of Rockville," it seems proper to state that the embodied 
facts were more the result of the love of the writer for this rural re- 
treat, as it was in 1823 and subsequent years, than the hope of 
pecuniary reward or literary fame. 

The first chapter was written in an idle hour, while the writer was 
meditating on the past and present condition of this once barren heath, 
and now the head center of business for Tolland County. The first 
number was passed through the Post Office, directed to The Journal, 
signed with the initial "C." Contrary to expectation, inquiry was 
raised to find the author, and demand more of the same sort of 
Roc. lie history. The Editor of The Journal was consulted 
whether he would print more than the first number. The answer was, 
" I will print all you'll write." Until I had written up to 1840 I had 
no expectation of having the articles printed in pamphlet form. 

From the absence of any record to assist, and often conflicting 
memories, — and from the death of nearly all who were familiar with 
the early history and settlement of Rockville, it is probable that events 
as narrated are somewhat imperfect. Each chapter was written for 
the last or finale ; which, being the case, many repetitions occur in 
two or three chapters which would not, if I had preserved my manu- 
script either written or printed. 

The first chapter introduced into this volume is from the pen of Mr. 



4 

Peter Dobson. This short narrative will be read with deep interest 
by all persons engaged in manufacturing. There is no other living 
man who can tell as much about the early history of manufacturing in 

k 

this State as. can Mr. Dobson. I feel under obligations to him for 
this chapter, because it connects so well with my record, which begins 
in 1823. 

The author of the following pages was not born in the Town of 
Vernon, but was nurtured among the hills of Tolland. He would be 
ungrateful not to acknowledge a kind and good Providence that 
directed his steps to this once almost desolate valley, and spared him 
to witness the changes that have come to this place for the past fifty 
years. Nearly all whom I met here forty-eight years ago have ceased 
from their labors and gone to their reward. In the light of this 
thought the question comes home, is our work done and well done ? 
Is there nothing left for us to do to make life happier, and the world 
better? If so, ours is a happy condition, and the consciousness that 
we have done our whole duty will lighten the darkness of the future. 
But if anything remains to be done, let our efforts not cease until the 
great work of life is ended, and the Master calls for us to enter into 
the joys of the happy spirit land. 

WM. T. COGSWELL. 
Kockville, January 1, 1872.. 



[From the Tolland County Journal of November 11, 1371'.] 

REMINISCENCES OF VERNON. 



BY PETER DOBSOX, ESQ. 



As you have from time to time published articles giving a history 
of the rise and progress of Rockville, permit me to give you an earlier 
history of the beginning of manufactory in North Bolton, now 
Vernon. 

About the year 1794, John Warberton came from England to East 
Hartford, and went to work making wooden cider mill screws, and 
finally made a bargain with the Pitkin family of East Hartford to 
build some cotton machinery to spin cotton, to be placed at a fall on 
the Hockanum, where they had a Snuff Mill, now Manchester Mills, 
He b"uilt two water frames, and preparation, and set them to work. 
But he and the Pitkins did not agree, and he left, and went to Full- 
er's, now Talcott Brothers, in North Bolton, built a dam and build- 
ings erected, and progressed slowly, so that eventually he got two 
small mules with preparations and a woolen card at a fall below, to 
card wool for customers, and built two brick houses. 

In the fall of 1800, John Warberton sold Alexander McLean, Col. 
Francis McLean, L. P. Tinker and Irad Fuller. Alexander McLean 
moved to the mills, and was their agent, and run the mill till after the 
war of 1812, when they sold the property to Thomas Bull, of Hart- 
ford, part cash, and part new lands in Ohio. 

In consequence of Warberton selling out, James Chapman and 
Chester King applied to me, (I was then at work in a small mill in 
Suffleld,) to join them and build a mill at King's saw mills, (on the 
fall now occupied by R.B. Parker.) I saw them and made a bargains 
and went to work in a lower room in McLean's wool-carding building, 
until a mill was built in the spring of 1810. We began to spin in the 
spring of 1811 on two mules of 192 spindles each, with preparations. 
We made stocking yarn, which we sold to Suffield peddlers, and also 



6 

yarn that we put out to farmer's wives to make into cloth, No. 12 
yarn for a forty reed which they had to weave linen goods upon. 
Some of the women had reeds and harnesses to weave double work, 
such as bed-ticking, table cloth, etc., so that I gave out yarn to make 
shirting, sheeting, stripes, checks, and ginghams of indigo blue, which 
we colored. Also table cloths. We also bleaches! some of the cloth 
and yarn, paid the weavers in cotton cloth, or yarn, as they chose. 

We sold the articles manufactured principally to peddlers, as we 
could not sell at any price to the Hartford dry goods merchants. We 
found two, Nathaniel Potter and James Dodd, who would receive some 
goods and pay for them when sold, in goods from their store. 

We received pay by giving orders to girls working in the mill. 
Before the war of 1812, there was a determination not to encourage 
manufacturing in the State. 

In the fall of the 3'ear 1811, Delano Abbott, who lived a little east 
of the Nortb-west School House in Vernon, called on me with a small 
piece of woolen cloth which was cut from the piece that the tailor was 
making up for Daniel Pitkin who lived on the bank of the river in 
East Hartford, opposite Ferry street, Hartford. By examining it we 
found the warp was cotton yarn, and the filling woolen yarn, five 
threads down and one up. He determined to make a similar article 
and wanted me to build a jack and jinny. I went to Middletown in 
the winter of 1811 and 1812. I went alone to the mill and saw a 
jack and jinny spinning wool. I had seen similar machines in Eng- 
land spinning cotton. In the spring of 1812 I agreed to build him a 
thirty spindle billcy, and a sixty .spindle jinny. He set the machines 
up in an out building near his house and a couple of looms in another 
building, had his wool carded into rolls at the McLean Mill carding 
building, which Warberton sold in 1809. 

The cloth when woven was carried to Simeon Cook's clothing 
works, at the place near where now stands the Panola Mills, to be 
fulled and finished for sale. Afterwards Dr. llinkley joined Mr.. Ab- 
bott and built a small mill afterwards used by Oliver Hunt for grind- 
ing bark. They also built another mill on the same stream iust below. 
In a few years Col. Francis McLean joined them, and continued 
business together for two or three years before Col. McLean, George 
Kellogg and Ralph Talcott went to Rockville,.and the present business 
of Rockville has sprung from their small beginning. 

Rockville, Nov. 11,. 1871. 



ROCKVILLE. 



CHAPTER I. 

Forty-six years ago your humble servant came to the Rock Factory 
(a name well understood in the town of Vernon) to work in the shop 
situated in the east half of the first floor of the factor}-. I regret that 
some one did not take a photographic view of the place — a good rea- 
son why is, no one ever thought of a photograph, or knew how to make 
a profile of any face that could be recognized unless it was labeled ; 
therefore I will try to give you an imperfect description of the village 
in the years of 1823-4-5-6. Traveling westward from Tolland on the 
turnpike road three miles we arrive at the mansion of Deacon Jabcz 
Kingsbury, or Col. John Kingsbury, now the residence of Geo. H. 
Kingsbury, Esq. Forty rods west the road turns to the right, and 
passing onward, one mile or so, we come to Pane's Mill, now Panola 
Mill. In 1777 this place was known by name of Iron Work and Gin 
Distillery. About 1803 Simeon Cooley established a clothiers works 
at this place. He made considerable money, built the brick house, 
and for a time was called a rich man. Passing onward the next build- 
ing seen is Cooley's Fulling Mill, upon the littleisland east of Eaton 
& Fitch's stable ; the same frame is now the dwelling nearest the said 
island. A little further west the road turns short in consequence of a 
steep hill and ledge. In front of Oliver Eaton's barn, at this point, a 
stranger pursues his way cautious and slow — the trees on the north 
side of the road cluster together and overhang the narrow pass, also 
the south. Here the Hockanum ran under an overhanging ledge 
crowned with ancient hemlocks, completely shutting the sunlight from 
the road. Passing along the road, bearing to the northwest, it ran 
over the hill about four rods south of J. N. Stickney's house. At this 



8 

point the traveller would hold on to shrubs and look down the steep 
one hundred feet, and now and then catch a glimpse of the cataract. 
What rendered this short piece of road more dismal in the night sea- 
son was the old story of the haunted place — cries and moans were 
heard now and then — it was said Fox Hill had been inhabited by 
thieves and robbers. 

I have said this to show you how the place looked forty-seven years 
ago. In 1823 there were five families in the Eock District, (so called 
in after years.) The old mill occupied in part the present site of the 
Eock Factory. To get to it you passed along now Prospect street to 
Judge Loomis's mansion, and turned to the left, and going south- 
wardly until you came to the turnpike at Mr. Allen Kellogg's. Mr. 
George Kellogg, Sr., kept the men boarders, and Otis McLean the 
female boarders. Mr. Kellogg lived on the ground now occupied by 
Judge Loomis's house. Mr. Martin's house is the one, without any 
L. In those days the south-west room was the dining room. This 
same room, after supper, was occupied b}>- the men and boys as their 
sanctum. Many arguments were discussed here with fervor ; some- 
times a little boisterous, but three raps on the door generally restored 
quiet. 

In 1826 a meeting was called at this room to consult in relation to 
improving the minds of young and old. It was finally resolved to es- 
tablish a debating society, and all the males must take a part in the 
debate or pay a fine. 

The first question that was argued was this : "Ought Capital Pun- 
ishment to be Abolished !" (The affirmative was, it ought not to be 
abolished.) The opening was on the side of the affirmative. Many 
quotations were used from the Old Testament to sIioav the propriety 
of sustaining the statute, &c, &c. 

Then arose the chairman of the negative, a man rather witty but 
illiterate, who had never listened to his own voice in a crowd, but he 
must speak, and the first shot was, "Well done, Blue Laws ; for my 
part I think a man ought to be abolished." He began to choke up, 
and looking around on some of the faces, he finally said, " I am a 
bigger d — d fool than I thought I was," and took his seat, with his 
head down. 

The judges said this was a superfine speech. At airy rate, if laugh- 
ter be a test, it was decidedly good. 

1 have given this outline of Eockville history in order to show up 
the difference to the masses that now occupy the waste places of forty- 



9 

five years ago. There were no cultivated fields to please the eye, no 
herds, or next to none, were seen on the surrounding hill-sides. With 
the exception of sixty acres of clearing, the surrounding on all sides, 
except on the west, was a forest. There were four dwellings then, 
without any paint on their walls ; the factory showed no paint. 
Three horses and two cows comprised the list of stock. There were 
less than fifty souls of any age in this district from 1820 to 1825, and 
'26 even. 

The hands in the mill wrought seventy-two hours for a week, and 
three hundred and twelve hours for one month's labor. The Sabbath, 
in those days, commenced on Saturday, a little before sundown. On 
the Sabbath we all, or nearly all, attended church. The old meeting- 
house stood directly east of George Hammond's one half mile. The 
school-house also stood near b}-. The church was forty by fifty, gal- 
lery on three sides. It had no long steeple, stove or chimney during 
all the years of occupancy. The foot-stoves were numerous. In the 
school-house good fires were kept up during church hours. At noon 
the people gathered in here to warm, and eat their dinners and tell 
the news. 

This simple story of Rock Factory, from 1823 to 1826, is identified 
with the writer's age. Forty-six years ago this month I became 
twenty-one years old, or a man in the law. Up to this time my home 
was with my parents in the south part of Tolland. They regretted I 
must leave theni Avithout gold to give me, but they gave me their bless- 
ing and I departed hence. From this period up to 1826 there was no 
improvement outside of the mill except the red paint on the mill and 
the two dwellings near by. 

Eockville, Dec. 25, 1869. 



♦• 



CHAPTER II. 

I said no improvement outside the Rock mill was visible, except 
the red paint on the mill and the two houses near by. The inside ap- 
pearance was materially altered ; the hand looms were cast out en- 
tirely. I will state here that in 1824 there were five hand looms, and 
five men to weave on them ; also two power looms as they were call- 



10 

ed, very intricate in their construction. They did not run half the 
time, they needed repairing so often. 

We will now take a walk through the mill in 1823. The first floor 
at the west or front end was finishing, boxing, &c. In this room was 
the desk that contained the books and accounts of the mill. By the 
side of this desk was a bed that turned up in the daytime, and turned 
down in the evening after the mill stopped, and was occupied by two 
supers for many years. In the middle of this room was the water- 
wheel. This wheel was twelve by sixteen, covered over top and sides. 
On the south was a space abont ten feet wide, used as a gangway in 
and out of the machine shop. In this shop is a grindstone, two lathes, 
an iron vise, and a bench on the south side of the room, twenty-five 
feet long. Lewis Beach and the writer of this story worked together 
in this room three } T ears. Beach contrived up a new loom, more sim- 
ple than those in use. The first loom was started in the shop, a lady 
was called down from the weave room and she, with patience and long 
suffering, wove the first yard on the new loom. [This lady, Miss 
Leonard, now Mrs. Sherman Chapman, still [survives, the head of a 
happy household in Tolland.] This was in the early part of 1824. — 
We then went to work and set up ten looms ; and the were run in the 
Rock Factory ; and ten more were added in the course of a 3 T ear or so. 
Let me saj-, the first ten looms were made with the tools made mention 
of. After a year or so we had an engine lathe and a buz saw, so call- 
ed, added to the shop. 

We will now walk up stairs in 1823. There are five looms, and 
Mulligan and McMahon, and two or three others, weaving the satin- 
ets and getting seven cents per 3^ard for weaving. In the room also 
was a machine for spinning, called the Brewster machine, complicated 
and expensive. In the course of two or three } T ears this frame was 
thrown out and its place supplied by the spinnning Jack, so called, of 
140 spindles. We will now walk up stairs into the carding room. In 
the west end of this room was an old door laid'«n two barrels (what 
for?) to sort wool on. Do you wonder who worked here at this rude 
table ? It was Mr. George Kellogg and Mr. Ralph Talcott. Here 
they would spend their spare time to sort wool. These men believed 
in the old adage : 

" He that by the plow would thrive, 
Himself must either hold or drive." 

I will now add a few words more about the card room. There were 
two cards tised for breakers, and two finishers. The machines were 
single, so called, because they had but one main cylinder each. , Those 



J itttti't*-9 f-t-it-fY 7 V/V<-M~« 



11 

machines were moved by hand power, and made roping. The rolls 
were taken up and pieced one by one. This method made an endless 
string until the copp was filled. These copps were transfered to the 
spinning jack, and twisted ready for weaviag. 

I have been a little tedious in this description of the inside labor 
that was bestowed in making cloth in tohse days of 1823 and 1824. — 
There were many experiments to make the roping from the cards, so 
as to do away with the billies and rope-piecing. After much labor to 
1827, the roping was drawn from the cards through tubes that gave a 
twist sufficient for spinning. Therefore after these improvements in 
spinning and weaving, the old Rock Factory began to improve. It 
turned out 200 yards of satinet per day, and population augmented 
one-third more. In 1828 there wae built one house and painted white. 
It occupied the site where Mr. George Kellogg, Sr., resides. The 
house was first occupied by Mr. Kellogg, and afterwards for a board- 
ing house ; and after a few years was moved, and is now occupied by 
Mr. Harris. In 1830 the house where Mrs. Rose lives was built. 

I have now glanced at a simple history (from recollection mostly) 
of Rockville from 1823 up to 1830. It was my intention to leave out 
the names of those whom I first met in the year 1823 at Rock Factory, 
but in order to show how improvements were made in the years allud- 
ed to I had to say by whom they were made. Shakspeare makes "the- 
idolatrous fancy" of a surviving lover "sanctify the relics of a lover 
lost," and the strongest memories of old age, it is well known, fasten 
upon theyet?rs and events of youth. 

January, 8th, 1870. 



CHAPTER III. 

In a former number of the Journal my remarks were confined prin- 
cipally to the district called Rock District. I used this language for 
the use of the readers of the Journal, who now enjoy such privileges 
as here presented. In this East, or Brick Schoohouse District, we 
had had no schoolhouse previous to 1836. Small children were 
taught in some room in private dwellings, and the larger children 
would go down to Grant street — now West street. Grant street was 



12 

an old settlement long before Rockville was thought of. Grant's mill 
occupied the place of J. Seidell's factory — an old town mill and land- 
mark familiar to many. Near the old mill was the county schoolhouse. 
This house was used for every kind of speaking, preaching, spelling 
schools and night assemblies, several years ; and lor many years the 
stated place for Methodist meetings. To the evening meetings the 
young people of both sexes of Rockville were wont to repair, some for 
good, others for evil, if my recollection is correct. 

In connection with the old schoolhouse I will relate an anecdote : — 
There was a young lady who worked in in the factory who attracted 
the attention of the gents ; one in particular. She wore a splendid 
bonnet, trimmed in front with swan's down, white as snow. At an 
evening meeting in the said schoolhouse a young man viewed the fine 
lady, ardent, o'er and o'er, and made up his mind to escort her home. 
The meeting ended, all hands came out, and the young man also. — 
His first purpose was to watch for the lady with the particular bonnet 
on. There was no moon, yet the night was not so dark as to prevent 
his seeing the bonnet in the crowd. He offered the lady his arm and 
she said "yeth, thir," and they took the path up stream across lots. — 
The path is now the street called Main street. The lady's boarding 
house stood directly in front of the Rockville National Bank. Instead 
of stopping here, she took the cart path running from the Rock Mill 
northeasterly, crossing Prospect street near E. F. Stoughton's house, 
thence on through the woods to the Hall Place. This is the spot now 
occupied by Mike Fay. The well by the roadside is the old well used 
by Deacon John Hall a century ago. Beyond the well, fifty feet to 
the right, stood the mansion and store attached. Here was the cen- 
tre of business for many miles around ; here the farmers drove their 
cattle to be slaughtered, &c. He was rich as Croesus. His mind be- 
came diseased to such an extent he was considered crazy. About 
eighty years ago he hanged himself ; therefore the place became a sol- 
itude. The young couple passed this place in silence. After travel- 
ing seventy-five rods further the lad}'' was home. He stammered good 
night, and retraced a part of his steps, say one-third of them. He ar- 
rived home nearly exhausted. This mistake happened inconsequence 
of another bonnet that had white fur on the front. The young man 
did not stay long in the place. 

I have wandered far away from the history of Rock Factory. In 
the beginning of the year 182G the people of Vernon resolved to build 
a new church edifice. They took hold of the work as one man, and 



13 

thus it went on to completion. The slips and pews were assessed for 
an amount sufficient to pay for the house, and were deeded to the in- 
dividuals embraced in the church and society. To this house the in- 
habitants of Rock Factory traveled for worship ten years nearly. 

A few more words about Grant street. Nearly one hundred years 
ago a Mr. Grant, who lived in Bolton, owned a farm that interfered 
somewhat with the common, whieh was laid out very wide, and still 
remains a very broad street. This Mr. Grant exchanged his Bolton 
farm for lands in North Bolton. These lands comprised all of West 
street to the Hockanum on the south and west, north to Ellington 
line, and Easterly to the Carlisle Mill. There were four families of 
Grant's in West street many years, and Mr. Elnathan Grant who liv- 
ed in the house now occupied by Mr. John Pitney, all brothers and 
settled on the lands that were exchanged for the Bolton farm. 

January 15th, 1870. 



CHAPTER IV. 

In my last chapter I carried the reader down to Grant street, or 
West street, and left him, there to look about the old Grant settle- 
ment. Traveling eastward on Main street from J. Seidell's factory, 
we come to the Hockanum place. 

Forty-seven years ago or more an attempt was made to make sati- 
nets in the old buildings, a part now standing on the side of the hill 
south of the stream. About the same time the old Grant Mill was 
made into a satiuet factory. The Springville also was a factory 
twenty by thirty feet. At the Hockanum there were two small dwell- 
ings near the bridge ; at the Springville one house on the south side 
of the stream. 

I have now given the dimensions of Rockville in its infancy, for the 
benefit of the present generation. ' Where is the benefit,' some one 
says, ' to this generation?' My opinion is that the rational mind can 
take moral lessons to itself, and learn how to overcome difficulties 
by comparison. Fifty years ago, what then? Nearly every man and 
boy wore the cloth made in the family. Sixty years ago there were 
no woolen factories in this State ; very few carding machines. There 



14 

is here aucl there an old lady who can tell of carding the rolls upon 
her lap, and spinning and weaving the same into flannel, and dyed 
the cloth red, and carded up the napp, and made herself a dress and 
wore it in winter ; and in the summer linen or tow cloth. This is no 
fiction. 

In 1812 the war with Great Britain began, and the United States 
Navy was feeble compared to Jonny Bull ; therefore our ports became 
blockaded by the British, clothing for our soldiers became scarce, 
hence it was the object of many persons to make blue mixed satinets 
for soldiers' clothing. Many had just begun to make cloth in 1815, 
and the war ended ; many failed, (nearly all of this class,) who had 
no capital or wealthy friends to help them. Col. McLean, or Francis 
McLean, was interested in some of the first efforts to manufacture, 
associated with Doctor Hinckley and Delano Abbott. Some of these 
little mills were soon obliged to stop work most of the time, and pre- 
vious to 1818 had almost ceased to live. 

About the beginning of 1820 Col. McLean surveyed the Hockanum 
and purchased the lands included in the East District, or Brick 
Schoolhouse in Rockville, bounded by the south bank of the Hocka- 
num, with the privilege of building dams, &c. The stakes were 
stuck, and the work of digging the wheelpit and canal went forward, 
and in process of time the mill (Rock Mill) was raised and finished. 

I hope to be pardoned for this lengthy history of Rockville. I 
began, thinking to tell the whole story of three years duration of the 
old Rock Factory life, and let some one write the remainder. But 
looking up friends to help me on, 'tis vain, almost ; so, then, I take 
the pen thinking I will be more concise ; but thoughts mature faster 
than I can write them. 

I shall endeavor to confine myself hereafter to the progress made 
from 1828 to 1840. 

January 22d, 1870. 



CHAPTER V. 

In my last chapter I proposed to narrate some things done from 
1828 to 1840. 
From 1823 to 182G there were no improvements outside of the 



15 

mill. Every house was crowded with boarders. During the year 
1827 the Rock Company resolved to build a house for Mr. Kellogg. 
The next spring, 1828, as soon as frost was out the ground was 
broken and leveled down, cellar dug and stoned. The timber was 
hauled and framed near by the spot now occupied by Mr. George 
Kellogg, Jr. The building was raised and completed the same year. 
The best part of the story is to be told, therefore take notice. No 
rum, gin or brandy was furnished or drank on the premises from the 
commencement to completion. Two years before the church edifice 
was raised at Vernon Center. The old and young men were there — 
every one. The raising went on one, two and three days, from morn 
till night, finally with the aid of a barrel of rum the raising was com- 
pleted. 

It is far from my intention to speak evil of those persons of whom 
I have received so many hospitalities. I return to my task. I have 
told of the first white house built in Rockville without the aid of alco- 
hols. Since this house was built I have never known of an}- building 
being raised in this place by the use of rum. 

It is not my design to lecture on temperance or intemperanee, but 
in passing I felt constrained to say a few words that belong to the 
past ages of which I am an unworthy relic. It is my opinion that no 
man or woman from 1801 to 1821 believed it an evil to drink on all 
occasions. Alcohol was the balm for every wound. Everybody 
drank some kind of liquor for their particular infirmities. I will in- 
clude the good old ministers — one in particular, who said, ' It was a 
very pleasant practice at a wedding to drink ' flip' and tell stories-' 
A reform was needed, and it came in good time for us all. 

About the time of 1826 Col. McLean put up an oil mill at the New 
England bridge. This mill was brought from the Phoenix Mill, so 
called now-a-days. This mill was used for making linseed or flaxseed 
oil about three years. It was then sold and made a cotton mill for 
making warps for satinets. 

In 1830 or 1831 Willard Fuller and Chauncey Winchell, Jr., moved 
into this place. Christopher Burdick worked here but traveled from 
Vernon Center here every day until 1832. He then moved into his 
own house. The first house this side of Widow Alonzo Bailey's is 
the same house. There was no public road that passed b} T it. 

In 1831 and 1832 the old part of the Florence Mill was built. The 
east wing is the old meeting house. That was first built in the par- 
ish of North Bolton, so called for many years. The Rev. Ebenezer 



16 

Kellogg occupied the pulpit in this house fifty-four 3-ears and some 
months. His grave was made in the old graveyard. The inscription 
on the headstone reads, or did read, till a year ago, thus : ' Rev. 
Ebenezer Kellogg died Sept. 3, 1817, in the eighty-first year of his 
age and fifty-fifth 3'ear of his ministry in this place.' Standing by 
this stone the old church was in full view. Here follows the epitaph : 

" In yonder sacred house he spent his breath, 
Now silent, senseless, here he sleeps in death ; 
These lips again shall wake, and then declare 
Aloud, Amen, to truths they published there." 

In the year 1832 the Leeds Mill, or most of the wood part, was 
built. This mill was, when built, an enlargement of the Rock Com- 
pany. It was called the new Rock Mill. These new mills brought 
an increase of population and houses were built. From 1828 to 1834 
there were built six comfortable houses west of the Rock Mills. Two 
of the number have been removed to make room for better and more 
costly structures. There were, about the same time, houses built for 
the Frank Factory, so called. The long house on the south side of 
the road was brought from Vernon Center. It was Dr. Hinckley's 
weave shop formerly. The cotton mill at the New England Bridge 
had houses. Mr. Fuller's house is the one opposite Bissell's store on 
the west corner. 

I made a promise that I would write up to 1840, but I must dry up 
at 1832. On account of the great distance from the post office the 
roads are not worked, consequently news moves slow and sure. I 
calculated when I sat down to write this chapter that Col. Tinker 
would be along with our letters. He is generally on time. Some 
one has told him az how we are going to get a post office and have a 
sto/e up here to keep it in. 

This 1832 is a year long to be remembered. It was the year of 
the great Asiatic Cholera visitation in this country. Thousands fled 
from the large cities into the country for safetj-. Every cesspool was 
examined here in Rockville. There were, up to this time, a large 
pile of flocks south of the old Rock Mill. They were considered 
worthless in those days. After a heavy shower there came a bad 
odor from the flocks. They wcrecarried far away, and every place 
made clean to ward off' as much as possible the terrible scourge. 

January 29th, 1870. 



17 



CH AFTER VI. 

In order to make myself understood by the present inhabitants ol 
Rockville, I must be pardoned for any repetition that occurs now and 
then in my remarks. I made mention of Willard Fuller, Chauncey 
Winchell and Christopher Burdick. These three families became res- 
idents of Rockville 1831 and 1832. Mr. Fuller understood cotton 
machinery, and cotton dressing and spinning. 

Mr. Burdick was a machinist ; Mr. Winchell a wheelwright. Mr. 
Halsey Fuller came here about 1833 — a cotton spinner, also. Rock- 
ville has improved worderfully since 1822, in the opinion of many who 
happen along here by way of Prospect and Elm streets, (hard roads to 
travel with heavy loads.) About 1833 Main street was survej'ed from 
the Rock factory to the Carlisle. The road down stream from Bis- 
sell's store had been surveyed a short time previous. Park street was 
surveyed in 1833, also the short piece of road that connects Prospect 
and Main streets at J. Seidell's barn. I told you in my first chapter 
of the road that ran along the sidehill a little south of J. X. Stickney's 
house. This road was given up Irv the town for one now in use at 
Seidell's barn. Main and Park .streets remained as they were for a 
little time. The fences were pulled down that crossed the road, and 
fences made on either side some of the way. About this time Mr. 
Horace Thompson, (the faithful watchman) bought of the Rock Com- 
panj r the lot six by ten rods where Freeman's store occupies. Mr. 
Thompson put up a building on this spot 24x32, one-and-a-half stories 
high, and finished inside one front room, bedroom and pantry. The 
floors were laid below and above. This was the first house that was 
built east of Elm street up to 1833. This house was raised in 1831, 1 
believe ; some of the boys said Uncle Horace had gone up into the 
field to build a house on the very same spot where Beach buried Ms 
horses. (True.) 

We will now, April 1st, 1833, take an inventory of the business in 
Rockville. The new Roek Mill has three sets of machinery : the old 
Rock Mill has also three sets ; the Frank Factory has two sets ; the 
Springville one set ; the old Hockanum one set — all making satinets. 
The small Cotton Mill at New England bridge, is running night and 
day, almost. The place where J. Seidell's Mill now stands, in 1833 
was used for carding, grinding, and making hat bodies. I remark 



18 

that these satinets were made of good wool, well twisted and fast 
colors. Some were indigo blue, some blue mixed"; some black and 
black mixed. Each one of these mills was striving to make the best 
cloth. I will venture to say if any man of polished education had 
come here and foretold the ways and means now employed in making 
Satinets, and making money thereof, the response would have been, 

" Young man ! I know you Avell, 
You are an imp of hell." 

I am willing to be understood emphatically that the men of whom I 
speak were honest and conscientious men without exception. It may 
be said, also, that scoffers and hypocrites found few friends in this 
place. I am not counting myself in as a settler or freeholder for some 
time yet to come. My home from 1828 to 1837 was in Tolland, about 
Wo miles east from Rockville. 

In 1833 it was resolved b}' Col. McLean and others in the town to 
build a paper mill. Col. McLean went forward and purchased the 
lands and water-power now occupied by the Carlisle Mill, Rose's Silk 
Mill, and all visible structures in this locality. The waterfall was 
called eighty -five feet at the line of the Rock Company's land. Here 
was eighteen feet fall down to the level of the Rock Pond. This 
eighteen feet of waterfall was purchased by Rums West and Horace 
Vinton, including a small parcel of land lying between the highway 
and the stream down to AVest's wagon and blacksmith shop, with the 
exception of a small gangway. On this land was a grist and saw 
mill. The grist mill occupied the land where the east half of the 
American Mill's machine shop stands. The mill was run up to 1847. 
It was then purchased by Phineas Talcott, Esq., for the use of the 
American Mill, except the site now occupied by the furnace (or cast 
iron foundry). Before I leave this place of the Grist Mill I will say, 
in 1847 the saw mill was taken down and the Grist Mill rebuilt of 
brick. This was used for grinding grain up to 18G4 or '65. 

I now turn back to the Paper Mill. The lands belonging to the 
Paper Mill extended from north to south about 175 rods. The wheel- 
and high Avail running in line of the American Mill's land, and 
built by Albert Dart, is the north and south line; thence easterly 
about eighty rods. This eighty rods ran from the woods now seen on 
Fox Hill, along by Willis Reed's house and Christy Jones's, toward 
East street ; thence northerly to Main street. Grove Hill Cemetery 
is ] art and parcel of the same purchase. J. N. Stickney's houses and 
occupy a portion of the land purchased by Col. McLean for the 



19 

Paper Mill. The building called the Paper Mill was 103 feet long by 
38 feet wide, brick and stone, basement, and one-and-a-half story, 
posts of wood. It contained four engines that carried 125 pounds of 
rags each, also one 64-inch Foudrinier machine. The mill contained 
other and all necessary machines, presses, boiler, &c, for making 
paper for books and other printing material. Sixteen hundred pounds 
was considered a fair day's work, the engines running twenty-four 
hours. There Avere two houses of two tenements each for the use of 
the Paper Mill. The first name of this establishment was "Falls 
Company," afterwards incorporated under the name of " Vernon Com- 
pany." The mill continued to run till 1840. It then made an assign- 
ment of all its effects for the benefit of creditors. Oliver II. King and 
Loren P. Waldo were trustees ; William Field and Squire Wood- 
worth of Stafford were commissioners; Mr. George Goodwin, paper 
manufacturer, and Mr. George Kellogg, Sr., were the appraisers. 
These trustees displayed great ability and discreteness in adjusting 
all the affairs of this concern. The propeiiywas sold, the bank debts 
paid in full, and all other creditors 79 cents on the dollar. The ex- 
penses of trustees, commissioners, appraisers, Judge of Probate, ad- 
vertising, and all charges (appertaining to this failure) were less than 
three hundred dollars. What a change has come to this place in 
twenty-eight years ! Instead of three hundred for the services of six 
men, it now costs twenty-three hundred dollars for two men to look 
after a little part of the same ground formerly occupied by the said 
Paper Mills. " 

In this same year, 1833, the building of the Stone Mill, so called, 
was commenced on the ground where stood Payne's Mill, so called, 
for many years. This factory was built for making warps for satinets. 
This mill increased the number of inhabitants in this locality in pro- 
portion to the increased facilities for business. And it came to pass 
in 1833 a building was erected nearly opposite S. W. Johnson's shoe 
store. This building was 22 by 3G ; the first floor was used for dry 
goods and groceries ; the second floor was divided about midway with 
a board partition. There were no plastered walls in these chambers. 
The front chamber for a time was occupied as a common room for de- 
bates, &c. Many speeches were made here that would astonish the 
present generation. This store continued business up to 1844, and 
the only store in the place to 1840. 

I forgot to tell where the Rock Company had their office in 1833-4- 
5-6-7 and 8. On the corner where Grove's store now stands was a 



20 

low, red building, the greatest portion of the building being used for 
horse-sheds. The south end of this building was finished coarsely for 
the office of the Rock Mills. The room was furnished with a plain 
butternut desk, a small box stove, and half a dozen wood seat chairs. 
This room was seven feet from floor to ceiling ; it had three windows, 
twenty panes each, of six by eight glass. This room was called b} 7 
many a pleasant one, for here was the place to call for pay, and all 
dues were promptly paid here. 

T have now wandered along up to the beginning of 1834. I will 
add we have no post office, no Main street worked ; Main street was 
traveled from the Rock Factory past the store, and then across lots t© 
Prospect street, near Mrs. Gainer's. 

February 12, 1870. 



CHAPTER VII. 

In my last chapter 1 intended to carry the mind of the reader 
through the years 1831, '32 and '33. I made mention of the busi- 
ness of 1833 and up to 1834. I am speaking in general terms in 
counting years. Therefore, I mean to be understood in making a 
period of time. It is to illustrate the greatest amount accomplished 
in a particular year, &c. I shall awaken no unpleasant sensation if I 
speak of the ways and means of doing business in Rockvillc during 
the first ten years of its life. The people were poor that came up 
here ; they earned the money they had, and paid debts as fast as they 
could. I proceed. In 1834, Main street was graded from the store 
to the Carlisle mill. The grist mill was built this season. In 1835, 
the houses opposite the American mill were built for Bufus and 
Horace Vinton, the owners of the grist mill. We will now count up 
the buildings east of the Rock mill. The first building is the store ; 
Horace Thompson's the second ; the grist mill the third, and the two 
houses of West and Vinton make up the list. There were no houses 
on the south side of the stream up to 1836 ; no houses on Prospect 
street except the men's boarding-house — now Mr. Elisha Martin's 
house. Tfae paper-mill and two houses were built, but could not be 
seen on account of the pines and hemlocks. 



21 

We will now speak of 183G. These mills spoken of in Rockville, 
were incorporated. Every year about the first of January the 
accounts were made up and the members of the company came to- 
gether to learn what had been done and what dividends there was for 
stockholders. The Rock company declared a dividend of 75 cents on 
the dollar ; the little Springville, 1G0 cents on the dollar on their cap- 
ital. This was in January 1836. During the season of 1836 it be- 
came known that the business in the satinet mills was prosperous. 
The factory at the old Grant mill was built and called the Saxon}' 
factory for many years after. This mill within a few years has been 
enlarged one half, at least. The house and barn for Alonzo Bailey 
was' built this season of 1836. There was another building erected 
this same year ; this building is occupied at present by Dr. Wilson 
and Mr. Townsend (apothecaries.) This building, when first raised, 
occupied the space of ground between the First church and E. 8. 
Henry's store ; it was moved to its present site to make room for the 
First church edifice. The upper story of this building was finished 
up with slips and pulpit suitable for a small meetinghouse. The Rev. 
Diodate Brockway was employed to preaeh for many months, to the 
edification of a crowded house every Sabbath. 

I would speak at length of the Rev. Mr. Brockway, if I had the 
ability to do justice to this excellent man. I would add a few words 
of history : — 

Rev. Diodate Brockway came to Ellington in the year 1807 or '08* 
Ellington was originally a part of the township of East Windsor, 
called the 'great marsh.' It was incorporated as a town in 1786. 
The Indian name of the 'great marsh' was Weaxkashuck. For sev- 
enty years after settlements began east of the Connecticut river, El- 
lington remained an" unbroken wilderness. Tolland, Bolton and 
Stafford had their ministers before any settlement began in Ellington. 
About the year 1808, the people of Ellington were engaged in build- 
ing a meetinghouse. This house is now White's Opera House in 
Rockville. The house was partially finished outside, men were at 
work on the steeple near the top. Levi Wills, Esq., said to Mr. 
Brockway, 'let's go up into the steeple (both young men.) Wills 
went forward and Mr. B. after, up one ladder after another to the 
bell-deck. Here were slats nailed on the posts up to the next stoiy . 
Wills arrived up safe, but the last slat came off, and down went Mr. 
Brockway about thirty feet ; here was a board across the steeple. 
This checked his fall somewhat, but the board broke and down he 



22 

went forty-live l'eet, and fell on a workbench that was broken down 
to the floor. The distance was seventy-eight feet. I have heard the 
Rev. gentleman make mention of this fall to his hearers in a very 
solemn manner, to take heed, &c. 

This building,called the Lecture Room, has been the 'hub' of Rock- 
ville in many respects. On the first floor was a school room. This 
room occupied about two-thirds of the north part of the first floor ; 
there our schools were continued for years. 

I could write an extended history in connection with this first 
meeting house and school house. It may be said that up to 1836, 
Rockville, so-called now-a-daj^s, had no name as district or post office ' 
address. Therefore, to establish preaching permanently and main- 
tain it, had to be done by one or two individuals living here. It 
may be said of a few individuals, they did well. But there is one 
who still lives who gave more than all the rest. If I should continue 
to write Rockville history, I will try to give a good account of the 
years 1837 and 1838. 

February 26th, 1870. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

In my last chapter I made mention of the large dividends of 1836. 
The types made the little Springville one hundred and sixty, instead 
of one hundred and fifty cents on their capital stock. But a few 
months proved an over estimate of goods on hand in making up ac- 
counts. I will explain for the benefit of many persons the method of 
making up the yearly accounts of the mills. An inventory is made 
of all the finished goods on hand, the unfinished goods, wool, dye- 
stuffs, &c, and their value made up from sales previous to making 
inventory. The fall sales of '36 gave returns of prices averaging- 
over one dollar per yard on satinets sold. Therefore, it is easy to 
calculate a great loss on cloths inventoried at one dollar, and sold al 
sixty cents per yard, and dull spring sales at that. I have now given 
nearly a true solution of the case. 

Early in the pear 1837, Mr. George Kellogg, Sen., and Capt. Allen 
Hammond bought the small cotton mill of Mr. Willard Fuller, at 



23 

New England bridge. Messrs. Kellogg & Hammond were members 
of the Rock Co., and continued their membership in said company 
for many years afterward. Mr. Fuller moved to the Phoenix mills, (so 
called afterward) and built the mill and other building at that place, 
and made warps for satinets. Mr. Fuller was agent for the company 
till his death, which, if I mistake not, took place in 1850. He was 
an upright, prosperous man. About the first of April '37, the build- 
ing of the New England mill commenced in good earnest. Masons 
and carpenters were on hand ; men came from all parts of the town 
with cattle and horses, hauling stone, lumber, &c. The mill was one 
hundred and twenty feet long, three stories and an atic high, and oc- 
cupied the same ground as the present structure, in part. The mill 
erected in '37, was burned in the autumn of '41, together Avith its 
contents. The old cotton mill was used for storing and sorting wool, 
and was saved, but the wool was taken out and trodden under foot 
and considerably injured. The mill was insured for $16,000, which 
was paid cheerfully. They had a gift of one thousand dollars. The 
mill was rebuilt the same fall and winter, and put in operation in the 
summer of 1842. 

The new mill manufactured cassimere, and up to this time no other 
cloths than satinets had been made in Rockville. 

I now turn back to '37 ; I have spoken of the large dividends of 
the Rock Co. in 1836 ; I have said, also, that Mr. George Kellogg 
and Capt. Allen Hammond were stockholders in the Rock Co., and 
their dividends were wanted to build the New England mill. But 
the Rock Co. had more cloth than cash — they had cloth on hand by 
the barnfull. Business in many mills was stagnant. The Rock Co. 
almost stopped work. The banks suspended specie payment for a 
time, yet the New England Co. kept up courage and good credit. I 
will venture to say that no man who labored here in any capacity ex- 
pected to be cheated or lose a dime on any contract price agreed upon. 

The first dwelling house erected in 1837 at the New England fac- 
tory, was situated on the east side of Vernon avenue where the rail- 
road is now located. The same house now stands south of the track. 
and near the cut. Mr. George Kellogg, Sen., occupied this dwell- 
ing until late in the fall ; he then moved into the house now occupied 
by A. Park Hammond. The house west of this was made about the 
same time for Capt. Hammond. There were two houses near each 
other that stood on ground now occupied by the N. E. Co.'s ice 
house ; here was a small cape of dry land and a well of good water, 



24 

These houses were moved — one of them to nearly opposite from 
where it formerly stood ; the house south of Bissell's store was also 
owned by the New England Co. and included in the purchase of Wil- 
lard Fuller. 

There was another house erected in '37 ; it is the two-tenement 
house west of Mrs. Allen Hammond's. The house nearly opposite 
the office was finished in the spring of '38. The population of Rock- 
ville would number, July 1st, 1838, about three hundred souls. Early 
in that year the citizens of Rockville who had property invested, were 
nvited to come together and see wh at could be done or how much 
money could be raised to build a house of worship. Every man came 
to the meeting — all felt alike that it was time to act. A subscription 
was started and an amount pledged sufficient to warrant a success in 
the matter of going forward. Contracts were soon made for building 
a church edifice. The present First church is the same edifice, except 
20 feet added to the north end ; which addition was made in 1845. 

About the first of May, 1838, the timber for the meetinghouse was 
delivered on the ground a little distance east of the store. Before 
the first of the following Jul}', the business in this place looked so 
bad, the building of the church was postponed for a while. In the 
fall, the building was erected and the body of the house closed in and 
shut up for the winter. The inside work for the church was made in 
the old cotton mill at New England Bridge. Early in the spring of 
1839, the work on the church went forward to completion, and was 
dedicated in June of the same year. This meetinghouse cost 85,100 
above the foundation. 

The building of this church was no small affair for a few individu- 
als to accomplish. No tax was levied then nor since for building 
churches in Rockville. 

AVe have no post office yet, no hotel, saloon or market ; no poor 
house or town farm, neither had we any town paupers. It might be 
said we had the halt and blind, but they had good neighbors ; and 
this town still maintains a good reputation for benevolence, individu- 
ally and collectively. (Yes, that's so !) 

The men who came up here to manufacture satinets were farmers ; 
i. * w and then among them was a clothier, so called, a man who knew 
how to color, knap, and shear homemade flannels ; this was a trade. 
I make this remark to show how we had to live and labor to plant this 
goodly heritage. 
"March 12th, 1870. 



25 



CHAPTER IX. 

I will venture to otter a few more remarks concerning the village of 
Rockville thirty years ago. Thirty years is the full average of human 
life. In the spring of 1837 I commenced my permanent residence in 
Vernon or Rock factory. We had no name, as I have before said, 
as a society or post office address. AVe were a community made up 
by counting the mills aud houses belonging to each corporation. Mr. 
Horace Thompson, the faithful watchman, was the first and only man 
for years who lived in the house owned by himself in the East District 
of Rockville, Mr. Rufus West and Mr. Horace Vinton, owned their 
houses, (built in 1835) and owned also the Grist and Saw Mill. We 
will now take an account of Rockville as it was thirty years ago. ■ The 
Rock and Leeds factory had ten dwelling houses, also the store and 
lecture room, so called, and the old and red office standing where 
George A. Groves' store now stands. They had a blacksmith's shop, 
dye and woodhouse, woodshed and two barns. I forgot to mention 
the men's boarding house, now owned by Mr. Elisha Martin. I have 
now given the whole number of houses belonging to the Rock and 
Leeds Compan}'. I use the terms Rock and Leeds Mills, because they 
were divided after 1840, and have remained two distinct corporations. 
They were the property of the Rock Company up to that time, I am 
sure. Traveling eastward we come to the Grist and Saw Mill, two 
houses and a small barn — the property of Messrs. West & Vinton. 
Further east we come to the Paper Mill ; here were two houses calcu- 
lated for two families each, three small barns and a small shop. A 
little further east we come to the old settlement called the "Iron 
Works," once owned by Deacon John Hall ; afterward Payne's Mill 
up to 1834, and then called the Stone Mill, but now known as the 
Panola Mill. There were seven houses in all in 1840 at the Stone 
Mill. I have now given the whole number of buildings from Tolland 
line westward to the New England bridge. The New England fac- 
tory and six houses made up the entire village (unless we include two 
barns, wool and woodhouses, etc., belonging to the New England 
factory.) A little way down the stream we come to the Frank fac- 
tory ; here are two houses ; one calculated for four families, and the 
other for two, and a large barn on the north side of the road, in front 
of the long house on the opposite side. There were drying houses, 



26 

sorting and wool house, the latter being now used as an office at the 
Florence Mill. The next mill is the Springville ; the houses belong- 
ing to this company were three in number, and three others belonging 
to members of the company — making six in all in 1840. Down 
stream sixty rods from the Springville stands the old Forest Saw 
Mill. This mill stood on the south end of the Hockanum Company's 
dam. A little further west is the old Hockanum or Twin Mill — a por- 
tion still standing on the south bank of the stream. Near the bridge 
were two small houses, in 1840, belonging to the mill. We next come 
to the Saxony; erected in 1826. There were two houses belonging 
to this company, and seven other houses belonging to individual set- 
tlers. South of the Saxony factory, on West street, were three houses 
in 1840, and they are still standing. I have made mention of the 
building of these mills and dwellings in former chapters, part and par- 
cel at different times, and have now endeavored to present the whole 
village to the reader as it was in 1840. I beg pardon for too much 
repetition. 

In a former chapter I gave an account of the tract of land on which 
the village of Rockville is at present situated, as belonging to the 
Grant family. Since I wrote the article referred to, I have obtained 
a history of these lands contained in a deed to Samuel Grant, a tran- 
script of which here follows : 

" Know all men by these Presents that we, Timothy Olcot, Francis 
Smith, & John Bissell, all of Bolton, in the county of Hartford, & 
Colony of Connecticut, Agents to the propriatiou of ye Common Un- 
divided land in Bolton, for and in consideration that Samuel Grant of 
Windsor is obliged to convey and confirm to us the said Timothy 01- 
cutt Francis Smith & John Bissscll as Agents of the propriatory 
aforesaid all that Right and title which the said Grant now hath to a 
certain farm in Bolton formerly granted to one Thomas Bull & con- 
veyed to him by one James Steel in Consideration aforesaid we the 
said Timothy Olcutt Francis Smith & John Bissell for ourselves & in 
behalf of the proprietors aforesaid Do Give Grant Bargain Convey & 
Confirm unto the said Samuel Grant & to his heirs & assignes for 
ewer one parcel or tract of land lying & being in ye township of Bol- 
ton att the nothend of said township in quantity five hundred acres 
bounded north on Windsor Commonly called Windsor Equivilent 
lands the whole breadth of the town of Bolton Except one parcel in 
the Northeast corner of said Bolton, under the improvement of one 
Whipple of about thirty acres and said tract of land is to run so far 
south from the north end of said Bolton the whole breadth of said 
Town excepting the corner aforesaid as will make five hundred acres 
of land and abuts north on Windsor Equivalent Land East on Tolland 



27 

except the aforesaid corner on Whipple south on the proprietors of 
Bolton lands West on Windsor. To have and to hold said five hun- 
dred acres of land as above described, with all the privileges and ap- 
purtenances thereto Belonging, to him the said Samuel Grant his 
heirs and assigns for ewer and we the said Timothy Olcott Francis 
Smith & John Bissell for ourselves and in behalf of the proprietors 
aforesaid Do by these Presents Covenant promise & Grant to and with 
the said Samuel Grant his heirs & assignes that we will defend the 
above bargained premises to said Grant and his heirs against the 
Lawful Claims and Demands of all and every person whatsoever. In 
conformation whereof we do hereto sett to our hands and seal this 
29th day of April A D 1726. 

Signed Sealed & Delivered in the presence of Ozias Pitkin, Joseph 
Olmsted. Hartford, April 30th 1726. 

JOHN BISSELL ,— — 

TIMOTHY OLCOTT •{ seal } 
FRANCIS SMITH • — . — 

Lieut. John Bissell Timothy Olcott and Francis Smith the sub- 
scribers to the above written deed Personally appeared & acknowl- 
edged the same to be their voluntary act and Deed before me 

OZIAS PITKIN Justice of the Peace. 

Received to be Recorded April 30th A D 1726 and Recorded the 
same att Large in Bolton. Recorded Page 85. 

LIEUT JOHN BISSELL Register. 



CHAPTER X. 

In my last, I gave an inventory of all the buildings in this village, 
including West and East streets — now Panola mills, as they were in 
1840, except the new church and lecture room ; I mean the First church 
as it is now called. It was for a few years called the Second Ecclesi- 
astical Society in Vernon, for we had no name or post-office address 
up to 1840. Before I proceed with my story, I desire the reader to 
take a walk up Fox Hill as far as the cottage that was built and oc- 
cupied by Mr. Leavitt. Standing near this point you could look down 
upon nearly all of the buildings at that time. There were no buildings 
south of Hockanum river until you come to New England factory. — 



28 

There were no buildings on Prospect street or north of it to Ellington 
line in 1840, except the men's boarding house — now E. Martin's resi- 
dence. Do you ask what could be seen from this point on Fox Hill? 
I answer : You could see the church, lecture room and school house all 
in one building. The little store that stood opposite of S. W. John- 
son's shoe store, the two low houses that now stand west of the Meth- 
odist church, and two poor low houses that stood where the Rockville 
National Bank and Second Church lawn is situated. You could see 
the Rock factory, and two houses, one of them is now occupied by 
Mrs. Rose, and the others stood on the spot now occupied by Mr. 
George Kellogg, Sen. You could see the small low house, now occu- 
pied by E. Freeman as a store ; then the residence of Mr. Horace 
Thompson, the faithful watchman. I have now given you a view of 
the "Hub" of Rockville as it was in 1840. 

I must trespass on your patience while I offer a few words in rela- 
tion to the First Church building. The lecture room, so called, was 
built in 1836, and occupied for three years every Sabbath as our meet- 
ing house, and for all reasonable lectures and the like, and was, in 
fact, a very useful edifice for many years. 

The New England factory built in 1837, and went into operation 
the following year. This brought an increase of population, therefore 
our lecture room was crowded over much. Business looked bad, es- 
pecially manufacturing ; man}' looms were standing still, and bonds 
were given predicated on the best farms in town to secure mone}* len- 
ders, &c. 

But there were men hold of the plow that did not turn back, if they 
dared. A New England village without a church or school house was 
just no village at all, in the estimation of many. So then a few men 
got together and said, let us join hands and build a church that will 
better accommodate us and those who may come among us from time- 
to time. I repeat ; the building of the church began in the spring of 
1838, and the work was suspended after the timber was framed. The 
house was raised in the autumn of the same year and the outside par- 
tially finished, and then closed up for two and a half months in the 
winter. The inside was prepared in the shop at the New England 
factory. It was finished in the spring, and dedicated the 29th day of 
June, 1839. 1 am aware the reader of to-da}- will say this is a simple 
story ; but if he reflects and realizes the condition of our finances, and 
the few in number who joined heart and hand in this work, he will say 
well done faithful servants. 



29 

I forbear giving the names of those who subscribed, or how much 
each gave into the treasury for the public. No man ever told any one 
how much he had given, and no one ever said he regretted his gift. I 
do not believe that any man or woman who began to worship in this 
house ever refused to aid in supporting the gospel. There were those 
who feared the house was too good for this place, or that somebody 
would say that Rockville was growing too proud for its purse. Does 
any one now say the First church ediffce is too good ? Far from it, 
says Pride. But recollet, Rockville was under age when the church 
was built — not quite 20 years old — a mere 3*outh and headstrong I must 
confess. A few words more and I leave this subject. The seats in 
the First church were rented for the remainder of the 3-ear '49, and to 
April 1st, 1840. The slips sold readily — all classes buying a seat. — 
The first Sabbath after dedication was fair weather, and the house 
was well filled. Rev. Ansell Nash, our pastor, occupied the pulpit in 
the morning and afternoon. "Mr. Nash was a man of marked abili- 
ty. In prayer he possessed peculiar gifts ; he seemed to apprehend 
the secret desire of every worshipper present, and would present them 
at the mercy seat in language that raised the mind from earth to heav- 
en, and imbued it with a fervency which makes prayer importunate 
and effectaal." Such was my impression on the first Sabbath in the 
new church. It was a solemn day to many ; at least, it was a serious 
day to some seven or eight persons. They had taken heav}^ burdens 
upon themselves. Building the house of worship was but the begin- 
ing. There were other considerations beside the payment of money 
1 can not say what were their secret thoughts, so let me call to my aid 
the beautiful and expressive lines of Heber, for a solution of them. 

"Say, shall we yield him in costly devotion, 

Odors of Edom, and offerings divine ? 
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean, 

Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine ? 
Vainly we offer each ample oblation, 

Vainly with gold would his favor secure ; 
Richer, by far, is the heart's adoration.— 

Dearer to God, are the prayers of the poor." 

I have now given the simple history of the commencement of Rock- 
ville. I have used the name for convenience many times, but we had 
no post-office till 1841, if my recollections are correct ; if I am wrong, 
should like to be corrected. AVe had agreed to call the place by the 
name it now bears a little time before we had the office. I have de- 
sired that some pen would be employed to tell of the lives of some of 
the sons of this town who have contributed so much for its benefit. — 

The simple cutting on a stone, "Born in' the year , and died in 

," is not enough. 



30 



CHAPTER XL 

I will venture to offer a few words more of the rise and progress of 
Rockville. 

In 1841 we had a post-office. Samuel P. Rose kept the office in his 
store, then standing nearly opposite S. W. Johnson's boot and shoe 
store. The mails were transported on stages and mail wagons. The 
large mail bags were carried on the turnpike through this town for 
many years. This route was the shortest from New York to Boston. 
The Brick Tavern, now the Town House, was altogether a very differ- 
ent place than from the present day. After we had the office the 
stage came from the Brick Tavern through Rockville, and then ran on 
to the pike again at Vernon Center. 

I wish the reader could know how good we all felt for these privi- 
leges. We had had a meeting house without any bell ; we had the 
office and the stage coach without a hotel or any place for a passen- 
ger to wait for the mail, or any house except the store, and small 
store too, but in cold weather passengers came in and warmed in the 
store around the box-stove, therefore a tavern must be talked of. — 
Business was rather poor. The few were in debt, somewhat on ac- 
count of the outlay on the church, but something must be done. Mr. 
Samuel P. Rose, a new comer, and Mr. Hubbard Kellogg, of Vernon 
Center, were induced to build the first public house. As an induce- 
ment they were offered by the Rock Company all the land where the 
Brick School House now stands, and eastward to the American Mills 
Boarding House to Prospect street. The tavern grounds also inclu- 
ded the site where Mr. Heusser occupies, and westward to the corner 
ner of School and Park streets. This strip Avas about six rods wide 
south of School street until you come to said corner, and then runs 
south and inludes the grounds now occupied by houses and buildings 
of Mr. Francis Keeney and Benezett Bill, Esq. The tavern built first 
is the same building now occupied by Squire Bill, and stood where the 
present hotel stands. This house was finished in 1843, and opened to 
the public in the fall of the same year. 

I will now turn back to 1841. The labors of Rev. Ansel Nash ter- 
minated this same year. No good reason was ever given to the pub- 
lic for the act. The New England factory was burned in the autumn 
of '41, and rebuilt during the fall and winter following. Business was 



31 

rather poor here about the years of 41 and '42. The burning of the 
New England Mill was a great loss for Rockville, but far greater to 
the owners. The}- had an insurance of six thousand dollars, which 
was cheerfully paid. The loss was three times the amount of insur- 
ance. It is an ill wind that blows no good. The making of cassi- 
meres in Rockville commenced in the rebuilt mill, and proved to be 
an advantage over satinets. This change of business in consequence 
of the fire proved a success. 

The year '40 was an exciteable year in politics. William Henry 
Harrison was the nominee of the Whig party, and was elected Presi- 
dent. This was the campaign of hard cider and log cabins. Tem- 
perance men laid aside their abstemious principles and descended low- 
er than they ascended afterward. A huge log cabin was built in 
Hartford opposite the Allyn House. The timber was hauled free gra- 
tis most of it. A certain deacon came into Hartford with two long 
sticks on wheels, and a barrel ot cider, and the deacon astride the bar- 
rel. This movement and the like turned the tide of temperance al- 
most beyond recovery. Rockville did some foolish things to look 
back upon. Well, the best part of the story is that many were asham- 
ed of themselves afterwards. President Harrison was inaugurated 
March 4, 1841, and died April 4, 1841. 

In 1842 a bell was placed in the tower of the First chiuch. It tVas 
made at East Medway, by Geo. Holbrook. Its weight was twelve 
hundred pounds. So we went on getting things as fast au we could 
get the money to pay the bills. It was a common thing to hand round 
the hat once in eveiy few days to get money for singing, instruments, 
&c, &c. We had singing schools and rehearsals often. There were 
good singers in this First Church. I fancy I could see an animated 
face when there were sweet chords, and also her frowns when there 
were discords. 

I pass to the year of 1842. I remark the winter of 1841-2 was the 
mildest winter ever known. The writer built his dwelling the winter 
aforesaid. The chimneys were laid in January, the plastering done in 
March following, and the house was occupied April 12, 1842. There 
was no freezing of plaster, and the house was made without the use 
of fire until after the 20th of March. There were a few tears shed at 
the thought of moving into this lonely domicil. There were no houses 
tojbe seen on either side in the spring of 1842. 

Rockville has now attained the age of manhood. AVe could mail 
our letters every day and have a return mail the same day ; and what 



32 

a comfort it was to get into the stage coach and ride to Hartford, es- 
pecially in bad weather. Methinks I hear the remark, why say so 
much about those trifling things of old? I answer, the men of Ver- 
non came here from the farms without large quantities of gold', and 
took up the shovel and the hoe and began at the smoll beginning of 
building this pleasant village. Does any one ask who they were or 
who turned the waters of Hockanum? It was Francis McLean, com- 
monly known by the title of Colonel McLean. A man of uncommon 
energy and enterprise. Without him Rockville might have remained 
a bai'ren heath. If a w r ater dam was to be made he would say, "come- 
boj^s," and into the water he went, and the rest must come. You may » 
understand the reason of going into the water in a few words. After 
laying the foundation stone for the dam he would cart in gravel, and 
while carting he would spread it about and level it with the hoe and 
let the loam wash away, therefore the work was solid and enduring. 

I did not intend to write up the history of any man, but I am con- 
strained to say this much of Col. McLean in connection with 1113- dull 
history of Rockville. I have a secrect desire to have some of the sons 
of Vernon write a history of the business men who have con- 
tributed so much for this town to build it up. 

In m} r allusions to the early men of Rockville I do not wish to be 
understood that the}' were faultless or superior to other men ot Ver- 
non, or the towns generally. I may be understood, however, to say 
they were men who had their education, every one, in the old small 
school house, (such as we have been told by modern men were not 
lit lor pig pens.) Our schools generally kept three and a half months 
in winter, now and then one four months. I know very well what I 
am talking about. Yea, verily, and I had to chop my cord of wood 
at the schoolhouse before; and after schoof hours. Gentle reader, 
spare the tear! It did not hurt me to do it, neither, docs it humble 
me to tell of it. 

July 9th, 1870. 



CHAPTER XH. 

Since the lust chapter of ' Rockville History,' which was written up 
to 1842, I have been requested many times to say more on the same 
subject. The requests came principally from abroad — in and out of 



33 

the State from those who once were inhabitants and co-workers here 
thirty years ago, more or less. 

I am urged, also, to have the numbers printed in pamphlet form for 
those avIio feel an interest in this once a solitude that has now become 
the Mecca of Tolland County. 

I proceed to speak on. As the commencement of the year 1842 
Rockville commenced its manhood — arriving to fall twenty-one years 
of age. We had a meetinghouse and post office and one small store 
in the East district, so called now-a-days, and about this time a small 
store on West street was built. 

There was very little building in 1840, '41 and '42, all hands were 
working hard to pay up and keep ourselves in good credit, a credit 
founded on conscientious duty and integrity which almost begets in 
my mind the fancy of idolatry. In 1843 Samuel P. Rose and Hub- 
bard Kellogg built the hotel on the site of the present hotel now 
owned and occupied by Francis Keeney. The old hotel is the same 
building now owned and occupied by B. H. Bill, Esq. 

The building of the first hotel was considered a bountiful outlay 
for the welfare of Rockville and the community at large. 

The establishing and building the First church was the greatest 
event for Rockville that had ever transpired up to 1840 ; then a post 
office and the hotel made Rockville a place in fact. It may be said 
that up to the time of building the hotel Rockville afforded no place 
for amusement — such as balls and other social parties so common in 
all ages past, whereby young gentlemen and ladies were, and ought 
to be tolerated social interchange of rustic conviviality. The spell 
must come to an end, and on the completion of the hotel a great party 
came together to hold a fair for the benefit of the hotel. A variety of 
charming things were there and charming young ladies were on hand 
to show themselves and sell the sugars, as round the}' came with 
sugar-kisses for six and a quarter cents apiece — cheap at that and 
plenty. 

It occurred during the evening that an offer was made by a prepos- 
sessing young man from East Windsor, saying he would give a quarter 
to one or all of the ladies present for a real kiss (an act performed 
with the lips in former times.) * The proposition was received with 
slight disdain, if my recollection is good. I fancy I can see the 
change of mouths among the young ladies, but the whisper went 
round who should step up first. A married lady presented herself 
and then another and so on, till the young gent said that once round 



34 

was all be bargained for. lie said be felt somewhat exhausted. It 
was evident his purse was some twenty dollars lighter, but he paid up 
promptly. Some few who staid at home said it was a shameful affair, 
while those present never complained. Thus ends the chapter for 
1843. 



" 'Tis hard to say if greater want of skill, 
Appear iii writing or in judging ill ; 

But, of the two- less dangerous is the offense, 
To tire our patience, than mislead our sense." 



April 22cl, 1871. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

I will venture to ask j-ou to print a little more of the same sort of 
history called ''Reminiscences of Rockville." Since I first began to 
v rite, there has been a demand for a continuance of these particulars 
of the rise and progress of this village from 1820 to 1870. 

I will commence this chapter with the year 1844. I have said, or 
iii say now, that this village up to this date, was owned and built by 
the inhabitants or those who came here to dwell from the adjoining 
towns. The number of inhabitants in Rockville in 1844 was less 
thi n one thousand, and less than three thousand in the whole town in 
1850. 

When I first began to write out the simple story of this village, I 
began in the year 1823 — the time that I began to work here ; but for 
convenience I make the commencement of Rockville in the year 1820. 
Di ring this year, very little could be seen except the dirt thrown up 
in digging the canal for the Rock Mill and making the dam. The 
mill was put up and covered with boards from ten to twelve inches 
wide : this being the cheapest covering in those days. Therefore, 
during the year 1821, and up to 1822, cloth called "satinetts" was 
: de in the said Rock factory. 

I have repeated these stories as an excuse for showing up the cau- 
tion exercised by those men having the enterprise in hand. There- 
fore, the beginning was small and progress slow. Improvements were 
made as fast as proprietors could make them after providing for cur- 
rent expenses and paying up their interest accounts. (Six per cent. 
was lawful rate ; no man dared to ask more.) 



35 

The year 1843 brought in some new inhabitants. West street, sp 
called, carried on quite a large business in the manufacture of ladies' 
shoes ; Chauncey Hibbard was proprietor. He employed Edwin 
Walden, and Edward P. Allen, from Lynn, Mass. Mr. Walden went 
back after three years' stay here ; Mr. Allen remained here until three 
years ago, when he moved to the city of Lynn. Edwin Walden is 
now mayor of the city, and E. P. Allen is captain or chief of police. 
Captain Hibbard was a stirring man, and active as a military officer. 
He married three wives, and buried them within fifteen j-ears, and 
married the fourth, and himself died in about twenty years from his 
first marriage. His fourth wife is now living, and married. I have 
made mention of Captain Hibbard for a reason to show up the whims 
that occur in the course of a few years of time. 

The best and finest military parade that has ever been seen in 
Rockville, was "cowed" down by "Invincibles," encouraged by the 
first men in the place, by the furnishing of money and tin swords, and 
every invention to cast ridicule and reproach on Capt. Hibbard and 
the company who were doing duty according to the laws of the State. 
The company of course went down disgraced and discouraged. The 
bright muskets were laid aside and became rusty and useless. All 
were enrolling themselves in one great peace-party, and non-resist- 
ance men. The ministers preached the doctrine, and tracts were to 
be seen in every domicil ; in fact, the doctrine was spreading that 
differences were to be settled by arbitration and the swords made into 
plowshares and pruning hooks. I have no desire to hold up in deris- 
ion any man or men concerning their motives in putting our ancient 
military system into disrepute, although their acts were rebellious and 
revolutionary. In passing my mind over the past, I have narrated 
these facts to show to the present generation that there lived men 
thirty years ago in Rockville, capable of doing dirty work. I now re- 
turn to the building and enlarging of the village. 

Up to 1840 the entire south side of the Hockanum down to the New 
England and up to the Paper Mill, (now A. Dart's line) was owned 
by Mr. Francis Grant. He was induced to sell it to Cyrus White for 
the sum of about eighteen hundred dollars. It was easy to see a little 
contempt stirred up on the north side of Hockanum, therefore men 
began to bestir themselves to show the eligible spots for building lots 
on the north side of the stream. The grounds now occupied by Mr. 
Harvey King, and eastward in line, were considered pleasant, but their 
inaccessibility was quite a hindrance to their occupation. There was 



36 

a great gulf a little west of where Mr. Keeney's shed stands, which 
hindered travel of every kind in that direction. To overcome that 
difficulty a deep culvert was formed of stone, and covered with broad 
stones and earth, and so made passable over the hillside to the Ameri- 
can Mill. The first house erected occupied a portion of the site now 
occupied by E. S. Henry's mansion. The second house erected is the 
one now occupied by Mr. Preston, Cashier of the Rockville National 
Bank. The first house west of the Catholic church was next added ; 
a portion yet remains on the same ground. .The houses now owned 
by Mr. King and Mr North were built in 1847. The house that was' 
built on the ground by Henry, was removed north on School street, 
and is now occupied by Mrs. Geckler. The house now owned by Mrs. 
Doctor Skinner, was finished and occupied by Mr. Ralph Talcott in 
1 843-44. Mr. Talcott soon after built the house now owned by Mrs. 
Allen Talcott. Mr. Ralph Talcott was one of the first who came here 
to help build the Rock factory. He was an owner in part and an es- 
timable man. He died in 1H47. The house now occupied by Mrs- 
Samuel P. Rose, was built by the Rock Company for Mr. Talcott, and 
occupied by him about ten years — say from LSoO to 1840. For the 
first twenty-six years after the commencement of this village, the rank 
and file of the number who came here to dwell, and even those who 
came later, were unbroken until the death or Mr. R. Talcott. 

About this same time Brooklyn began to populate. The name 
Brooklyn was used because Rockville resembled Xew York, and across 
the river resembled Brooklyn Heights; so the name of Brooklyn has 
been spoken many thousand times, while the name of New York has 
never been applied to the north or vest side of the river. Mr. Cyrus 
White was the mayor of Brooklyn by common consent, and was active 
in building it up. His blacksmith shop was the first building erected 
the south side of Hockanum. This building was made the dwelling 
house of Jerome Heath, afterwards occupied and owned by Jehial 
Fuller. Mr. Fuller made it a two-story house. After Mr. Fuller's 
death it became the residence of R. W. Holton. It was purchased of 
him for the railroad's use. It is the first house west of B. Hirst's. I 
must be excused henceforth from numbering the houses that were 
built from time to time, since 1842. Brooklyn grew rapidly : it shows 
tor it sell". Thirty years ago $1,800 was considered an extravagant 
price for the real value of the. said Brooklyn lands. This Brooklyn 
tract of land is a part and parcel of the same lands which were con- 
veyed to oik; Samuel Granl of Bolton, in exchange for his ("Grant's) 



37 

''farm of one hundred acres/' he receiving rive hundred acres therefor 
by deed in 1726. 

It may be said as a fact that Vernon for many years manufactured 
an acticle called rye gin, and goocl gin it was called by many good 
judges of the article. To look back upon the years from 1822 to 
1827, it would seem to be dangerous for any family to retire for the 
night Avithout some kind of alcoholic liquor in the house. Of one thing 
L am certain, had I espoused the subject of temperance as boldly in 
1823 as main' did six j-ears afterwards, I should have got leave to go 
home. It has been said that every act has a moral for good or evil. 
The good moral of the age of universal drinking was in the inquiry, 
among those starting in the world, as well as some in middle life, how 
to avoid the expenses that accrued from using it ourselves and fur- 
nishing it to friends and fellows. The worst part of the history of 
those days is the idea that drinking liquor on all occasions is a benefit 
and could not be dispensed with. In fact it was constitutional with 
old blood, and the young were contaminated. 

Therefore, I am bold in saying that fifty years ago, and even forty 
years ago, drinking liquor was no sin in this town, but drunkenness 
was a crime. It was not my intention in writing this chapter to jus- 
tify men in drinking liquor, or condemn them for so doing. I am 
more inclined to testify in behalf of the men of this town, that no town 
three and a half miles wide and about six miles long, contained a 
more sober, conscientious and honest class of citizens than were here 
fifty years ago, and since died in their native town. 

I will beg pardon for getting off the track in the history of Rock- 
ville. Before I close I will state that this village from 1843 began to 
grow in population and wealth. In '44, the store now occupied by P. 
It. Moore, was built and occupied by Samuel P. Rose and Edwin Mc- 
Lean. In autumn of the same year the old office was taken away and 
the store now occupied by Geo. A. Groves was put up. In 1845 the 
old store that stood nearly opposite S. W. Johnson's was moved and 
fitted up to live in. It stands on the east side of Park street nearly 
opposite Mr. Win. Butler's. In the west end of the store of G. A. 
Groves may be seen an iron door ; should you ask how it came there, 
I answer, Mr. George Kellogg had it placed there for a safe place to 
keep the Rock Company's books and money. Mr. Kellogg's office 
was in the south-west corner of the present store for a time. About 
this time Doctor Stephen Griggs came here and occupied the front 
part of the store now used by Dr. Wilson. The rear part of said 



38 . 



building was our school room up to 1849. The room overhead was 
also a school and lecture room during the same time. From 1841 to 
'45 we had no settled minister. Rev. Horace Winslow became the 
pastor of the First Church in 1845. This First Church, so called, 
was in 1845 and later, called the Second Ecclesiastical Society in 
Vernon. 

As may be supposed, our meeting house was filled to overflowing. 
There was an addition of 20 feet added to the north end of the church, 
but it was still too small to accommodate all. Before I close I will 
say, we had no lawyer in 1 844 — cause why, we couldn't afford it. 
We thought we couldn't support a doctor, but after he got a going he 
supported himself as well as the rest of us. 

June 10, 1870. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

In order to arrive at the end of my Rockville histoiy I must omit 
particulars of small importance, that belonged to the every day tran- 
sactions of this village twenty-five or thirty years ago. Previous to 
1840, and '42 even, I could give the details of every tiling that had 
come to pass within the youthful days of this village, with considera- 
ble accuracy. But I am admonished to make haste, and do quickly 
(lie work required of me. 

During the years 1841 and 1845 many comfortable houses were 
built in different localities, several on Brooklyn side, and Bark street, 
and Main street, and New Englandand Mountain street, stone mill, 
&c. Also two stores, and the greater part of the present Rock fac- 
tory. * In '15 and '46 the cast part of the mill, extending westward 
so as to admit of the wheel-house, was fust built, — the old mill 
standing during the time the new part was building. The one-story 
portion of the building was occupied by Mr. George Kellogg for an 
office. It became necessary to cover the waterwheel, therelorethe 
west part was used as the Rock Company's office for several years, — 
a poor place to keep papers and books of value. 1 mention this to 
show how economical the business men of Rockville were for one- 



39 

quarter of a century, and especially the venerable man whose name 
conies to my recollection often. 

I have narrated some of the incidents of Rockville history during 
the interval of twenty-five 3-ears from its beginning. I must call this 
period the most interesting of the whole duration of fifty years. The 
first inhabitants who came here were poor in purse but persevering 
and self-reliant. Every man was 'alive' and well who first began to 
build the place, and could rejoice one with another for that good Provi- 
dence by whose care they were preserved. For twenty-five years the 
solid men could not boast of great wealth, if called upon to pay their 
dues. But all pulled together, so far as business was considered. 

Politics ran high in the year 1844. Mr. Polk was elected — 'nuft 
sed. (The universal Yankee nation survived.) The panic of 1887 
was forgotten, and many families had come here to dwell in this rural 
retreat, and their labors were crowned with success. Rockville could 
boast of two good places of trade in 1845 and '46. The store now oc- 
cupied by Geo. A. Groves was first occupied by White & Maxwell, 
and afterwards b} r White & Bissell. At the same time the store now 
occupied by P. R. Moore was owned byS.P. Rose; Edwin McLean 
(now in Great Barrington) was a partner with Mr. Rose in trade. 

Rockville in 1845 and '4G showed no plate glass in any show win- 
dow here or in the town ; Brooklyn crown glass was good enough for 
this place. The idea of showing more goods outside than were to be 
seen inside did not belong to this people in those days. We might 
be called a one-horse village by some men, because one horse was 
considered sufficient to draw one or two men to Hartford and back 
the same day. We did our heav}' work with heavy horses, but the 
fancy spans and blood horses were scarce in this village. Our first 
class wagons cost seventy-five dollars ; the more common in use cost 
forty. There was here and there a chaise and rockaway in town, but 
none here twenty-five years ago. We had no difficult}' in getting 
goods transported. The farmers down town were ready to go to 
Hartford for lumber, especially in winter. Thirty-six years ago, and 
befere, goods were carried overland in winter to New London, New 
Haven and Providence for shipment, after the Connecticut River 
closed. 

There were nine manufacturing establishments at this time, and 
one grist and saw mill. Previous to 1842 all cloths made here were 
satinets. The New England Mill burned in 1841 ; rebuilt and made 
the first cassimeres in 1842 and '43 that were made here. 



40 

The number of inhabitants in Rockville, commencing with the 
year 1S4<;. was less than fifteen hundred souls. The proportion of 
children was less than at a later period. Our population were nearly 
all Americans, and acquainted with each other. Our schools were 
kept in that memorable building now occupied by Townsend and Dr. 
Wilson. The upper room was our high school, our sanctuary, lecture 
room, music hall, lyceum,. theatre. We had many lectures in this 
room, the first were spoken by the Rev. George A. Calhoun. They 
were instructive lessons to all who heard them. Then again came the 
phrenological lectures, and two lectures on telegraphing. Tlie elder 
people attended these lectures. The telegraph wires were strung 
around the room, the batteiy was placed on the desk at the speaker's 
stand, — in fact it was the whole apparatus for telegraphing, complete. 
These lectures were listened to by the elder spectators with great at- 
tention ; most persons were ignorant for a time concerning the won- 
derful discovery or revelation made known to the civilized world by 
the inspired mind of Morse, who took the lightning in his hand and 
tamed it, and gave it to the world for a motive power to illuminate the 
whole universe of civilization. J am aware of straying away from 
my story. 

" Still o'er these scenes my memory wakes, 

And fondly broods with miser care ! 
Time but the impression deeper makes, 

As streams their channels deeper wear." 

I could speak of many things that occurred during these years 
above mentioned, if I had the faculty to tell a superfine story. I 
will mention one incident connected with the telegraph lecture. It 
happened during the second evening of those lectures that our friend. 
Arza Chapman, came in and took a seat near the speaker's desk. 
This man, in his whole character, lacks wisdom in most respects suffi- 
ciently to be useful ; yet he enjoys himself as well as anybod}-, and is 
a mimick. Our professor, in order to explain the pranks of electricity, 
cast out two buttons attached to this little battery or machine, gave 
the privilege to any one to take them while he gave a slight shock. A 
person said to Arza, 'Take them up,' and, contrary to expectation, he 
did take them in his hands. After he had taken the proper position 
the electric current was let on, and forth came such a yell or noise as 
valleys and rocks never heard. The professor let up and Arza 
dropped the buttons and flewdow* stairs, and the people laughed and 
Laughed till they cried. Shakspeare was outdone. Reader, if you 
had been there you'd laughed. 



41 

I cannot narrate the occurrences of those years above noticed with- 
out a degree of gravity. I never have pretended the men were perfect 
in all things who lived here twenty-five years ago. But they loved 
mercy, and walked humbly. Therefore vufcen the circumstances of the 
times in which they lived are taken into account, we may say they have 
left a good record. I hope it will be said of the generations who have 
survived, and lived the last twenty-five 3'ears in this village, that they 
have added to the talents committed to them. 

July 1st, 1871. 



CHAPTER XV. 

I have a few more recollections to otter about Rockville in general 
that may interest the man with gray hairs, who, ma}- be, once lived 
here during some part of his life, or has been conversant with the af- 
fairs of this busy village. 

Twenty -five years ago we had no names for streets, except Grant 
street (now West street). Pvockville was made up of small localities 
known by different names, to wit: Rock, New England and Stone 
mills, Paper mill, Leeds mill, Grist mill, Saw mill, Frank factory. 
Springville, Hockanum and Saxon}' - mills. We had two stores, White 
& Bissell's, Rose & McLean's ; in West street, Austin McKinney's 
store. This building is now the dwelling house of Mr. Doane. Union 
street and School street were not opened twenty-five years ago. There 
were no houses on either street except the Elnathan Grant house, now 
occupied by Mr. Pitnej-. This house frame is about ninety years old. 

I recapitulate in order to show the present generation the difference 
in the magnitude that Rockville had attained, say twenty-five years 
ago, compared with 1870. During the first quarter of a century prop- 
erty, real and personal, remained in the same hands from nearly the 
beginning. Therefore, when the mind turns back to 172G, thence on- 
ward to 184G, it may be said in truth that one Samuel Grant, who re- 
ceived 500 acres of land (now Rockville) for his 100 acres in North 
Bolton, made a good bargain. It is possible that Samuel Grant died 
without a correct idea of how much his farm was capable of producing. 
His son was capable of guessing into futurity, if tradition is correct in 



42 

relating his wonderful stories. He tells of a remarkably mild autumn 
and first of winter ; the frogs were all happy in the mill pond, making 
melody with their voices, wnen all at once the weather changed sud- 
denly to intense cold, froze the mill pond so quick that all the frogs' 
heads were sticking up through the ice in such quantities that he kick- 
ed off a bushel the next morning. 

The year of our Lord 18-16 will be remembered by many in this na- 
tion as a remarkable year. In March the army of occupation under 
General Taylor, 3,500 strong, arrived at theRioGrandc and took post 
opposite Matamoras. April 24th, hostilities conuneuccd between the 
Mexican and American armies on the Rio Grande, Capt. Thornton 
and a detachment of 70 or 80 men being killed or taken. May 8th 
and 9th, battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma — in both which 
the Americans were signally triumphant. July 7th, Commodore Sloat 
took possession of Monterey on the coast of California. 

I have taken liberty this j-ear to speak of some occurrences that 
transpired a century ago and more that do not belong to Rockvillc 
history, but they belong to the Grant farm, now Rockville territory. 

The year 1846 I call the middle or center of fifty-one years. It 
might be called the year of jubilee. We all, or nearly all, attended 
the same church. Great attention was paid to singing, and it became 
attractive and profitable in the sanctuary. We were a united com- 
munity for good. People from the cities began to think well of Rock- 
ville. Men of wealth offered to furnish capital to enlarge and build 
up new mills ; hence the plans and preparations were made for great 
work to be done in the year of 1847. I must make haste to to tell the 
tales of twenty-five years yet untold. 

"Nor will life's stream from observation stay, 

It hurries all too fast to mark their way : 

In vain sedate reflections we would make, 

When half our knowledge we must snatch, not take. 

<>fl in the passion's wide rotation toss'd, 
< »ur spring of action to ourselves is lost; 
Tired, not determined, to the last we yield, 
And what comes then is master of the Held. 
As the last image of the troubled heap, 
When sense subsides and fancy sports in sleep, 
(Though past the recollection of the I bought.) 
Becomes the stuff of which our dream is wrought : 
Something as dim to our internal view 
Is this, perhaps, the cause of most we do.*' 

July 22, 1871. 



43 



CHAPTER XVI. 

I proceed to give an account of the doings of Rockville, beginning 
the year of 1847. 

Early in the Spring the work began on the foundation of the Ameri- 
can Mills. Bills of timber were made for the frame and other lumber, 
and sent awa} r to Alleghany county, in Western New York. There 
was a firm at Mount Morris at this time doing business under the 
name of Hunt & Talcott, or Sanford Hunt and Frederick Talcott. — 
Mr. Hunt was a relative of Lucius A. Hunt and Samuel P. Eose ; his 
father moved from North Coventry after the war of 1812 ; he lived in 
Hunt's Hollow, so called, about twenty miles from Mount Morris, in 
the region of the Genesee River. Frederick Talcott was the eldest 
son of Phineas Talcott, Esq., of this town, and brother of George Tal- 
cott, Esq., now a resident of this town. The firm of Hunt & Talcott 
furnished all the timber for the frame and other lumber for the Ameri- 
can Mill, and also the timber and lumber for the Frank Company's 
mill. They also furnished about two hundred thousand shaved pine 
shingles, and large quantities of pine lumber, from one to two inches 
thick, for finishing lumber ; the whole bill amounting to one million 
feet at least. It was delivered in Rockville before the first of Octo- 
ber 18-47. 

I have made mention of this firm of H. & T., because they Avere 
indentified with Rockville and its welfare. They had made extensive 
preparations to furnish lumber many years to come. Mr. Hunt, the 
young man, was attacked with a fatal malady, and died about the first 
days of the year 1849. Frederick Talcott laid down and died the 
same year of consumption. I visited Mount Morris in forty-nine, and 
about the first sign that met my eye was Hunt & Talcott. There 
were many mourners for the loss of these men and the business they 
had created, so well calculated to bring money to this then infant vil- 
lage. Mount Morris was the terminus of the Genesee canal, at the 
time I am writing of. A little east was the village of Geneseeo, own- 
ed by the Wadsworths, formerly from Hartford, and the birth place of 
Col. "Wadsworth, who gave his life in the late rebellion. 

The timber for the American mill was delivered in School street, so 
called now-a-days, — there was no street laid out in 1847 ; no buildings 



44 

occupied the grounds in .School street ; but men stood there, broad- 
axe in hands, re-hewing those large pine sticks and planing them 
smooth. Other men were near by drilling and blasting the rocks that 
showed their heads since the flood. Finally the American mill was 
produced, as you see to-day, in less than one year. The Frank facto- 
ry was built the same year, and burned in 1853. I have spoken in 
particular of the American mill, because it was a new creation in 
Rockville. The new Frank factory was built by a company that be- 
gan in 1832. The east buildings at the Florence Mill are the same 
that were built by Col. McLean* Thatpart of the old building, the 
roof fronting the highway, is the old meeting house, and some of the 
same windows are visible that were in the house of worship. Tradi- 
tion says, that every man in town of lawful age, could and did sit on 
the sills before the raising, a common sign, in those days of unit}-. — 
If the reader enquires what was done in Rockville except the building 
of two mills, I answer the store near the American Mill, the house 
where Mr. North lives, the American boarding house, Mr. Stickney's 
house, Mr. Harvey King's, also, and like manner from West street to 
East street. During the years of forty-seven, forty-eight and forty- 
nine, there were wrought out such great changes in the buildings, and 
change of population, that man} 7 natives were astonished. There 
were many things done, and said to be done, which need no repetition, 
during the years of fort}'-seven and forty-eight. Early in the season 
of forty-seven, a survey for the Aqueduct was made by Col. McLean, 
Ralph Talcott and myself, (afterwards surveyed by Mr. Butler from 
Springfield.) Mr. Talcott was taken sick and died soon after ; this 
was the first death that took place among the first settlers in Rock- 
ville. Mr. Talcott was a live man, an upright and modest christian. 
lie was my friend and acquaintance. No man ever called him :i hypo- 
crite or dishonest. "An honest man's the noblest work of God." 

One thing more was done in 1847. The frigate "Macedonian," sail- 
ed from New York, freighted with provisions for the starving poor of 
Ireland. Rockville gave largely according to our wealth and people. 

Alio-. 12, 1871. 



45 



CHAPTER XVII. 

I made an offer to write Rockville up to 1870. In order so to do, I 
must be brief. To be concise and note down eveiy building erected 
since 1847, would take up time without compensation. I will mention 
some of the principal buildings that have been erected since 1847. 

In 1848 in consequence of the increase in population, the First 
church and the only church was over-crowded, and many complained 
for Avant of comfortable seats. A meeting of the society was called 
and a committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions, and if the 
sum of five thousand dollars could be raised it was deemed advisable 
to build a second house of the same denomination. A building com- 
mittee was chosen and the work of building went forward. For some 
time after it was determined to build the house, there was no action 
to form a second society. After deliberation and consultation it was 
resolved to form a second society. It was done. The second society 
must come from the first, so it came to pass that a few of the strong- 
est men came to the new society. The house was dedicated in 1849, 
ten years after the First church was dedicated. I shall make no at- 
tempt to prove how much better oft" Rockville would have been had we 
continued to worship together in one house. In 1848, Rockville had 
no district schoolhouse. Our schools were convened in the building 
now occupied by Townsend Brothers, Dr. Wilson and others, formerly 
the lecture room so called. The brick schoolhouse was built in 1849 
and occupied in December of the same year. This house cost when 
completed between nine and ten thousand dollars. Until this school- 
house was built, the facilities all around us for comfortable schools 
were too poor to be called decent. Building this house taxed the 
lew who had estates severely. Yet there was no complaint except 
among those who paid the smallest tax. 

This school gave Rockville a high reputation, for liberality, to say 
the least. The west district soon rallied and built a comfortable house. 
I am now writing Rockville up to 1850. 

To the young and middle aged please take notice. These churches 
and schoolhouses were built by the contributions since 1837 of a small 
company of men who believed in living, not wholly for themselves, but 
for posterity. To the youth let me say, who now enjoy so freely your 
schoolday hours. 



46 

The fathers who have provided such rich blessings for you, lived 
through their schook^-s occupying seats made of slabs and planks 
with legs made of round wood and placed through two inch auger holes 
in either end of the bench and wedged in on the top of the bench to 
hold them fast. This is no fiction. The schoolhouses that contained 
the furniture above mentioned were not Avorth on an average more 
than two hundred dollars, shovel, tongs, andirons, etc. And the gen- 
eration are now gone who have done so much for your 'benefit.' I 
have made a few words in reference to these public buildings to show 
how much has been done and can be done b} r a few individuals when 
their heart and hands are united. 

I will explain the method how we lived in the former day of Rock- 
ville life. The business men of Rockville from the beginning, up to 
,1850, were self-made men, and were not ashamed to work with their 
hands. The}- were economical in their living and wardrobes, yet 
they lived well and dressed well, and in truth were courteous and 
hospitable. They had no fancy spans to move them through the 
streets in Rockville, but were satisfied with one horse to take them on 
the way for business or pleasure. Rockville in 1848 had no saloons, 
restaurants or lawyers. We lived in such an economical way that wc 
had to dispense with all such luxuries. 

I have now solved the problem how to get wealth. 1 have been 
something more than a looker on in Rockville the last forty-eight 
Tears. When I look back from 1871 to 1823, 1 can see all things per- 
taining to Rockville during its rise and progress. I have seen an 
increase in population from 45 to 4,500 souls. The number of fami- 
lies residing here in 1823 were five ; if I include Mr. Elnathan Grant 
it would make six. I mean to include this district only. I cannot 
find but one adult person in this district that lived here in 1823. 
Mrs. George Kellogg is the lady. She prepared the first meal that 
I ate here. Mrs. Kellogg is all the adult I can find here up to 1830, 
including the west district. 

The number of adults living here from 1830 to 1840, and now liv- 
ing, arc, including the Avest district, Mrs. Kellogg, Mr. Chauncey 
Winchel and his wife, Mr. Gideon Colton, (came in '34,) Mr. J. T. 
Thompson and wife, (came in '37, I think,) and Mr. Nathan 
Doane. 

The population of Rockville in 1850 was nineteen hundred, in the 
town, twenty-nine hundred. 

During the vears from 1S50 to 18G0, the Methodist built a comfort- 



47 

able meetinghouse in West street. This house took fire and burned 
on a Sabbath morning. 

The German Lutheran Church was a Baptist Church till after the 
Methodist Church burned. It was bought and occupied by the Meth- 
odist society up to the time of building the present Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. This brick house was built in 18G5 and 1866. Cost 
$65,000. The Hockanum factory was burned and rebuilt between 
1849 and 1859. 

In 1847 the mill owners bought the right all around Snipsic Lake 
and raised the dam at the outlet 10 feet ; in 1865 a similar purchase 
was made and the dam raised about eight feet. This year, 1871, the 
dam is being raised three feet more. The Hartford, Providence and 
Fishkill Railroad was building in 1847 and 1848 and 1849. The 
Rockville branch Railroad was made in 1868. For a description of 
Rockville, full and complete as it .was in 1870, 1 refer the reader to an 
atlas of Hartford and Tolland Counties published b} r Baker & Tilden. 
See map of Rockville. I must apologise for writing this lengthy chap- 
ter, but it is the closing one, and the reader will excuse its length. 

December 23, 1871. 



48 



FAMILIES IN ROCKVILLE IN 1836. 



Members of Congregational Churches, 75. 

Members of Congregational Churches in Vcniuu, 63. 

Members of Congregational Churches elsewhe ■ 

Persons under ten years of age, 89. 

Whole number of persons in Rockville, i » I. 





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Rufus West, 


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William Kent, 








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Charles T. Talcott, 


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William Wiston, 








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Seth W. Johnson, 


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David Packard, 








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Nehimiah Daniels, 


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Gurdon Grant, 


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.lames Stewart, 










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Elisha Grant, 


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John Williams, 










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Francis (i rant, - 


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Mrs. Northrop, 










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Samuel Moredock, 










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(ieorge C. Weston, 








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Horace Thompson, 


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2 


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Chauncey Loomis, 


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Benjamin Waller, - 








4 


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Winslow Woods, • 


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Joel Vinton, 








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Trumbull Tracy, 


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Ralph Barber, 








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J.F.Judd, - 








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Enoch W. Daniels, 








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George Kellogg, 


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Ephraim Sanford, and ) 








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Lucius Hinckley, - 


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Isaac L. Sanford, j 












Billings Btigbec, 








4 


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A. G. Fitch, - 


1 




1 


4 


11 


.Mrs. ParmeTia Dinimock, 


3 


3 




1 


II 


Andrew W. Tracy, 


2 


2 




2 


1 


Selden and Austin McKinney, 


(> 


2 


•1 


1 


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Simon C. Chapman, 


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2 


3 


7 


Willard Fuller, - 


1 


1 




1 


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William Champin, 


3 


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1 




3 


Loomis Thompson, 










L5 


Miner Preston, 


3 


3 




3 


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•lehiel Fuller, 








4 


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Charles A. Buckland, 


1 




1 


1 


s 


W.O.Hough, 


8 


6 


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1 


J.-, 


William T. Lyman, 








2 


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Sanford U rani, • 


1 


1 




■_> 


1 


Joseph D. Metcalf, 








1 


<; 


John Gilmore, 








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fi 


Ephraim Parker, - 








1 


10 


Ell Hammond, • 


;; 


3 






7 


Benjamin Johnson, - 








1 


4 


Win. T.Cogswell, • 








2 




Carlo West, 


o 




2 


4 


L5 


Widow Otis McLean, Jr., 










LO 


Halsey Fuller, - 


3 


3 




3 


(i 


i leorge I , 


2 


■1 




2 


13 


Mrs. John Stebbins, 


1 




1 




■1 


( ihristopber Burdick, - 








4 


II 


Elizur Ilurlbut, 










4 


Chauncey Winchell, 


1 




1 


•2 


13 


Elijah Payne, - 










3 


John Wyman, - 


1 


1 






3 















HISTORY 



OF 



ROCKVILLE 



FROM 



1823 TO 1871. 



Including also a brief Sketch of Facts which ante-date the 

Incorporation of Vernon, and bring Dates up to the 

time when this hlstory begins. 



BY WM. T. COGSWELL, ESQ. 

[A Resident of the Village for nearly Half a Century.] 




ROCKVILLE : 

PRINTED AT THE JOURNAL OFFICE, 

1872. 



4 



